Heat-exchanger components

ABSTRACT

Heat-exchanger elements of plastic each of which is preferably produced in one piece by extrusion and consists of a plurality of substantially parallel tubes which are integrally secured to one another by connecting webs. A plurality of such elements may be interconnected by headers so as to form a larger heating unit.



1. A heat exchanger comprising at least one unitary element of plastic material consisting of a multiplicity of thin-walled parallel pipes molded integrally with one another and with connecting webs maintaining said pipes transversely spaced.
 2. A heat exchanger as defined in claim 1 wherein said pipes are divided into several sets of at least two adjacent pipes each, the axes and connecting webs of successive sets lying alternately in two parallel planes.
 3. A heat exchanger as defined in claim 1 wherein said pipes have ends projecting beyond said webs, further comprising a header interconnecting said pipes, said header being anchored to said projecting ends.
 4. A heat exchanger as defined in claim 3 wherein said header has a set of bores respectively traversed by said projecting ends.
 5. A heat exchanger as defined in claim 4 wherein said projecting ends have extremities extending past said bores, further comprising wedge means in said header engaging in said extremities for dilating same.
 6. A heat exchanger as defined in claim 5 wherein said wedge means comprises a set of tubular screws with conical heads of a diameter exceeding the inner pipe diameter.
 7. A heat exchanger as defined in claim 5 wherein said wedge means comprises a set of compression springs aligned with said pipes and terminating in conical spreaders for said extremities, said springs bearing upon an inner wall surface of said header remote from said bores.
 8. A heat exchanger as defined in claim 7 wherein said springs are coiled, said spreaders consisting of tapering turns of the coils.
 9. A heat exchanger as defined in claim 7 wherein said spreaders are tubular inserts carried by said springs.
 10. A heat exchanger as defined in claim 3 wherein said header has a set of bores confronting said projecting ends, further comprising nipples seated in said bores and connected with said projecting ends outside the header.
 11. A heat exchanger as defined in claim 10 wherein said nipples have bulb-shaped outer ends received in said projecting ends, the latter being shrunk onto said nipple.
 12. A heat exchanger as defined in claim 10 wherein said nipples have constricted outer ends received in said projecting ends, further comprising external clamping means holding said projecting ends onto said constricted ends.
 13. A heat exchanger comprising a plurality of unitary elements as defined in claim 1 transversely spaced from one another and a generally rectangular spacer inserted between a pair of said elements in positive engagement therewith, said spacer having major sides indented to receive the adjoining halves of the pipes of said pair of elements.
 14. A heat exchanger as defined in claim 13 wherein said spacer is bonded to said pair of elements.
 15. A heat exchanger as defined in claim 13 wherein said connecting webs of said pair of elements are provided with apertures accommodating fastening means for holding said spacer in position therebetween.
 16. A heat exchanger as defined in claim 13 wherein at least two of said elements are juxtaposed with their pipEs coplanar, further comprising individual headers for said elements respectively connected with the pipes thereof at one end of each element and a common header connected with the pipes of all said elements at the opposite end.
 17. A heat exchanger as defined in claim 16 in which said headers are movable independently of one another in their longitudinal directions.
 18. A heat exchanger as defined in claim 16 wherein said individual headers are coaxially disposed and provided with coupling sleeves establishing a fluid path therebetween.
 19. A heat exchanger as defined in claim 16 wherein said elements are divided into two groups of at least two elements each, the elements of each group being provided with a common header at said opposite end, further comprising a supply duct communicating with an individual header of each group and a discharge group communicating with another individual header of each group with establishment of a fluid path from said supply duct to said discharge duct by way of said individual and common headers.
 20. A heat exchanger as defined in claim 19 wherein said groups are provided with mounting means enabling relative movement thereof in response to thermal expansion and contraction. 